Parkview Mountain’s peak rises 2,656 feet above the trail and hikers can view North Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Never Summer Range, and the Indian Peaks. At 12,396 feet, Parkview is the highest and most massive mountain in the Rabbit Ears Range. In fact, the building on the top of Parkview, erected in 1916, may be the highest-elevation fire observatory ever built in the US. This section of the CDT utilizes old road beds, jeep trails, and new single-track, so the navigation can sometimes be confusing. However, the trail is marked with CDT blazes at all intersections, so be observant and you’ll discover the true navigational adventure that makes the CDT so wild. As you get closer to the mountain, the route is marked only with posts, which are not always easy to see. Bring your map and compass and be prepared to use them. Snow can accumulate on Parkview Mountain and stick until July. The mountain is especially susceptible to avalanches in the spring. Bring plenty of water, especially if you are hiking the trail in late summer or early fall, as there is only one likely water source on the hike. When you reach the summit, you can luxuriate in the ultimate reward: the view from the top looks out on the Flattops, the Gore Range, the Ten Mile Range, the Collegiates, and the Front Range.
Photo by Johnny Carr